Flexographic rotary printing cylinder with retractable dies



May 4, 1965 R. A. PANNIER ETAL 3,181,456

FLEXOGRAPHIC ROTARY PRINTING CYLINDER WITH RETRACTABLE DIES Filed Aug. 24, 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTORS RALPH AAAA/N/EE H.001! LINE THE/E A rraeusv May 4, 1965 R- A. PANNEER ETAL FLEXOGRAPHIC ROTARY PRINTING CYLINDER WITH RETRACTABLE DIES 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 24, 1961 y 1955 R. A. PANNIER ETAL 3,181,456

FLEXOGRAPHIC ROTARY PRINTING CYLINDER WITH RETRACTABLE DIES Filed Aug.- 24, 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 n dm THE/R A rrozuv May 4, 1965 R. A. PANNJER ETAL 3,131,456

FLEXOGRAPHIC ROTARY PRINTING CYLINDER WITH RETRACTABLE DIES Filed Aug. 24, 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 NVENTORS RAM/4A. Auu/se veeuz A 51-04 rauaaea y 1965} R. A. PANNIER ETAL 3,181,456

FLEXOGRAPHIC ROTARY PRINTING CYLINDER WITH RETRACTABLE DIES 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 24, 1961 Ill 1 3 "iii" I I! v THE/2 A 1' TORNEY y 4, 1965 R A. PANNIER ETAL 3,181,456

FLEXOGRAPHIC ROTARY PRINTING CYLINDER WITH RETRACTABLE DIES Filed Au 24, 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 7745/4914 rramue'v y 1965 R. A. PANNIER ETAL 3,181,456

FLEXOGRAPHIC ROTARY PRINTING CYLINDER WITH RETRACTABLE DIES 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug. 24, 1961 May 4, 1965 R. A. PANNIER ETAL 3,181,456

FLEXOGRAPHIC ROTARY PRINTING CYLINDER WITH RETRACTABLE DIES Filed Aug. 24, 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 By vEeuEASnI. mums United States Patent last:

3,181,455 FLEXGGRAPHlC ROTARY PRlNTl'NG CYLENDER WlTH RETRACTABLE DIES Ralph A. Pannier, Richland Townsmp, Allegheny @County,

and Laverne A. Stoltenberg, Gibsonia, Pa, assignors to the Pannier Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 133,648

19 Claims. (Cl. lt)l91) This invention relates generally to the art of printing an object as it passes a rotary press and more particularly to improvements in a rotary press of the flexographic type for printing a continuously moving series of objects or repeatedly printing a continuously moving sheet.

The problem is to print with a rotary press a continuously moving object, whether it is a series or a continuous sheet, with indicia that may vary consecutively Without altering the speed of the object to be printed on the rotary press. In printing a series of cartons that are moved along the printing path it is frequently necessary to change the printing to identify the ditferent items to be placed in the carton. In printing a continuous paper sheet that is used to hold and cover fibrous insulation the fibers are continuously fed onto the paper which must be marked by printing thereon the indioia of the thickness of the insulation. The speed of feeding the fibrous material may be varied to vary the thickness of the insulation applied to the paper. Other modes of changing the weight or thickness of the fibrous insulation fed to the paper may be employed but the problem is to provide a flying change of printing indicia on the rotary printing cylinder without stopping or varying the speed of the rotary printing cylinder.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a fiexographic rotary printing cylinder having a frame for supporting a cylindrical printing surface for rotation in presenting this printing surface to the object to be printed. This frame has lateral openings to receive the die supporting holders and slidably guide them to present and retract the printing surface. Each of the holders is biased to retain each of the dies inwardly of the printing surface. The frame carries a die holder actuating means which when operated overcomes the biasing force on the holder and forces the latter outwardly through the opening to position the die in the cylindrical printing surface so that it may print the indicia on the objects passing the same as the printing cylinder rotates.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a compression equalizer on a die holder which is in the form of an elastomer on the die holder having a metal poppet in engagement therewith and operated by an actuating means. This elastomer member between the actuating means and the die holder compensates for any slight inaccuracies in the dimension of the die holder and the operating mechanism that actuates the same.

Another object is the provision of an inner and outer stop for arresting the lateral movement of the die holder as it slides in the opening. The advantage of the stop is to hold each of the movable die holders in a fixed position within the printing cylinder while the Whole of the cylindrical surface of the printing cylinder including the arcuate surface of the die holders when being cut or ground to produce "he surface for the elastomer dies and thus hold the indicia in a uniform cylindrical printing surface.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a die holder bias means in the form of springs seated on peppers connected to the die holders which poppets aid in guiding the movement of the die holders in the frame opening.

Another object is the provision of the bias means in the form of a fluid under pressure actuating on the pistons formed on the poppet secured to the die holders.

Another object is the provision of a bias means in the form of garter springs engaging the die holders to hold them inwardly. These garter springs may be seetional to maintain an individual die holder in position or they may completely circumvent the printing cylinder and engage two or more die holders in the same radial plane in opposite parts of the printing cylinder.

Another object is the provision of a biasing means for retaining the die holders in their retracted position in the form of a solenoid which is provided with an additional coil to function on the same armature for the purpose of actuating the die holder. Thus opposite positions of the solenoid function to retract and maintain the die from the cylindrical printing surface or extend the die to the cylindrical printing surface for marking the object to be printed.

Another object is the provision of a shafit slidable axially within the rotary printing cylinder and carrying a series of cams for engaging the poppets on the die holders to overcome the biasing pressure and extend the dies to the cylindrical printing surface for operation. This shaft may rotate with the rotary printing cylinder and may be moved axially to any desired selected position for the purpose of extending any one or a combination of die holders to cause the same to print. If there are four die holders in the rotary printing cylinder the same may be actuated by a seriesof three cams. If there are eight rotary die holders the same may be actuated by a series of eight cams. If it is desirable to print the indic-ia carried by any of these die holders at the same time a duplicate cam may be provided on the axially movable shaft for this purpose. This actuation means may function in the form of a cam to retract as Well as to expand the die member into position thereby eliminating the need of a biasing means to retain the die holder retracted. Thus this cam may be operated by an axial movable rod or shaft or it may be controlled by a rotary movable cam. However, the former is preferable. in either instance, an electric solenoid die holder actuator and a cam that functions to extend and retract the die holders does not require an independent bias member as the other forms of actuators.

Another object is the provision of a fluid actuated cylinder for moving the operating cams axially within the rotary printing cylinder for selectively operating the die holders to extend the dies to the cylindrical printing surfiace. This fluid actuated cylinder may be operated pneumatically or hydraulically and is provided with a plurality of slidab-le pistons independently controlled through valve means and when pre-selected will energize the proper chambers and pistons to move the cams axially and pre-position selected of said cams to extend the selected die holder and its die to the cylindrical printing surface.

Another object is the provision of a switch for preselecting any one or a combination of the valves energizing selected fluid pistons for the purpose of extending selected die holders to position their dies in the cylindrical pointing surface. Many different types of servomotors may be employed to move the die holding actuating cams axially within the printing cylinder or to rotate the cams within the printing cylinder for effecting the same result.

This invention instantly changes dies in the cylindrical printing sunface of a rotating printing cylinder by independently moving the dies to extend and retract them from the cylindrical printing surface. The three general modes of extending the dies to the cylindrical printing surface are by fluid pressure, solenoids and cams. There are four general modes of retracting these extended dies from the cylindrical printing surface, first by biasing them with springs, second by fluid pressure, third by solenoids and .fourth by cams. The springs may be poppet, coil or leaf springs mounted under compression or die encircling garter springs under tension. The fluid biasing pressure may be liquid but is preferably pneumatic actuating on piston surfaces of the die holders. The solenoid retractor may be readily controlled in conjunction with a similar die extending solenoid. The last mode of retraction is by the use of'one portion of a rotary cam member. Each of these modes may be employed to retract the dies in combination with any mode of extending the dies to employ each die independently or in combination with each other.

Other objects and advantages appear in the following description and claims.

The accompanying drawings show for the purpose of :exemplification but without limiting the invention or claims thereto, certain practical embodiments of the in ven-tion wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the application of this printing cylinder to the facing sheet of fiber insulating strips.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rotary printing machine comprising this invention.

FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation of the printing cylinder and its operating mechanism. 7

FIG. 4 is a view in transverse section of the printing cylinder comprising this invention.

PEG. 5 is a plan view of the die holders on the printing cylinder as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view in longitudinal section of the printing cylinder shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of printing cylinder.

FIG. 8 is .a plan view of a modified form of the die holders on the printing cylinder as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a View in longitudinal section of the printing cylinder shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a view in longitudinal section of the printing cylinder having the die holders actuated by electric solenoids.

FIG. 10A is a view in section illustrating one form of a sliding interengagement between the poppets and their corresponding magnetic armature.

FIG. 11 is a view in longitudinal section of the printing cylinder having the die holders actuated in opposite directions by rotary cams.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a printing cylinder supporting die holders that are biased to their (retracted position by fluid under pressure.

Referring to FIG. 1 a rotary press 1 comprises the printing frame cylinder 2 which engages the ink transfer roller .3 which in turn engages the roller 4 in the inking fountain. This printing cylinder carries a cylindrical printing surface which includes the permanent die por-,

tions 5 and a plurality of movable die holders 6 such as the four separately designated movable die holders indicated at 6a, 6b, 6c, anded, all separately supported by die holders. At the printing station diagrammatically 'shown in FIG. 1 the backup roller 8 is provided opposite the cylindrical printing surface of the printing cylinder 2 for the'purpose of printing the paper sheet 10 that is unwound from the paper roll and passed over the guide roll 11 through the printing throat 12 to the guide rollers "1'3 and 14 consecutively, thence over the tar applying .roll lS and over the guide rolls 16 and 17 to the. upper surface of the continuous belt 18 rotatably supported 7 on the spaced rolls wand 21. The paper it? moves upwardly over the belt 18 and rides along the upper flightof thelsame.

i 'A' continuous metal conveyor belt 22 supported on the rollers 23 and 24 is disposed under the wool spinner 125 which spins the fibers and discharges them through the I chute 2 6 onto the metal conveyor belt 22. The Wool before discharge is usually coated with a plastic which when it hardens coats the fibers and also causes the fibers to adhere to each other. These fibers are. fed to the belt 22 at a rate to produce a predetermined thickness in the insulating coating that it applies to the paper 10. Shortly after it is deposited on the metallic conveyor belt 22 the packing rollers 27 and 28 roll the fibers to a predetermined thickness in accordance with the weight to be employed and the conveyor belt 22 feeds the same as a blanket across the gap between the roller 26 and the roller 21 at which position over the roller 21 the fiber mat is picked up bythe tar on the paper 10 and is permitted to adhere thereto preferably being subjected to the pressure member 30. Thus the paper is printed by the printing cylinder 2 upon rotation of the latter and the printed indicia is spaced along the moving paper in accordance with the diameterof the printing cylinder and the number of printing areas in the cylindrical printing surface of the cylinder. It is usual to space the printers so that the insulation may be cut in predetermined lengths equivalent to or greater than the length of the printed surface. In this process the edges of the paper are folded over so as to provide a stiffer fastening edge to secure the insulating bat to the studding, joist or rafters of the building it is employed to insulate.

As shown in FIG. 2 the main frame of the press 1 carries the bearing supporting the shaft that rotatably drives the backup roll 8. This shaft is provided with a sprocket and chain drive 31 connected to a suitable source of power for feeding the paper 10 as it passes upwardly through the printing throat 12. The paper is also pulled by the belt conveyor 18 and between these two members the paper is uniformly fed and printed to the position Where it receives the tar and then is conducted across the horizontal top flight of the continuous conveyor belt 18 where the fibers are applied to the tarred surface of the paper.

The secondary frame 33 rotatably supports the printing cylinder 2 together with the inker and transfer roll bearings as shown. The shafts on the ink well roller 4 and the transfer roller 3 are geared with the printing cylinder as illustrated in this view' to maintain the proper surface speed between the contacting cylindrical surfaces of these three rolls.

The frame 33 is supported from the rod 34 on the main frame and thus the whole of this frame may readily be removed and replaced by another rotary press.

The drive for the printing cylinder 2 and the transfer roller 3 and the ink well roller 4 is obtained through the rubber tires 35 at opposite ends of the cylinder 2. These tires engage the driven backup roll 8. Thus the tires 35 maintain the proper surface speed of the printing cylinder 2 and the gears connecting the printing cylinder 2 and the transfer roller 3 and the ink roller 4 maintain their proper speed. This arrangement is an important feature in this invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 the printing cylinder 2 has a permanent die portion 5 which is represented by words as well as markings that are given the same'reference numeral on the paper as shown in FIG. 2. This printing cylinder as previously stated is provided with four movable die holders 6a, db, 6c and ed having the indicia as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of three inches thick, one and one-half inches economy, two inches medium and six inches superthick.

The holow shaft 36 that carries the printing cylinder 2 is journaled in the bearings 37 andhas a rotary inner shaft 3% which is connected to the coupling 46 which coupling is stationary on the piston rod 41 and the head 42 on the end of the rotary shaft 38 has relative'rotary movement within the coupling 40 being connected through an antifriction bearing the outer race of which is retained.

by the split ring 43. The piston rod 41 is reciprocal by pistons within the cylinder 44 and thus reciprocates the rotary inner shaft 38 within the frame cylinder 2.

The cylinder 44 is provided with four ports 45, 46, 47 and 48 each of which is connected by a suitable tubing to the corresponding valve members 49, 50, 51 and 52 which valve members are electrically actuated by the solenoids 53, 54-, 55 and 55 respectively. A common fluid supply in the form of the header 57' is connected to each of the valves 4% to 52 and when one or a combination of valves is energized by their solenoids they will supply air to the combined or singly selected port for the purpose of moving the rotary shaft 38 and actuating the selected of said movable die holders 6a, 6b, 6c, and dc! to extend the same in the printing position.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 the printing cylinder 2 is provided with the lateral openings 57, 58, S9 and se for receiving each of the movable die holders 5a, 6b, 6c and 6d respectively. In these views the window e1 formed by the lateral openings 57 to 6!) has placed therein the bridge member 62 secured to the oppositely disposed seats 63 by the cap screws s4. This bridge member is provided with an inturned stop member 65 the under side of which engages corresponding shoulders 66 formed on the movable die holders 6:: and 6d as shown in FIG. 4. The other side of the movable die holder 6d is also provided with a shoulder 66 that engages the overhanging member 67 of the bridge member 62 as shown in FIG. 4. These stops are similarly arranged on the movable die holders 6a and 65. Each movable die holder is provided with a plurality of spaced poppets 63 that are secured to the movable die holders and extend through suitable openings 70 in the bridge member 62 to aid in guiding the outward movement of the movable die holder and also to provide a means for retaining each movable die holder in its inward position by the use of the head 71 on the outer end of each poppet 68 retaining the springs '72 in compression between the under side of the bridge 62 and the heads '73.. The head 71 may be made by cutting a recess in the poppet 68 and inserting in this recess a split washer against which the springs 72 are seated. Thus with the springs in place as shown in FIG. 4 the movable die holders 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d are held inwardly against the bridge 62.

As shown in FIG. 5 each die holder is provided with a lateral surface that extends beyond the next adjacent die holder and the corresponding die supported on the surface of these die holders is provided with a corresponding printing section for these overlapping portions of the die. This is demonstrated by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the Words thick, economy, medium and super thick are depicted in each of the respective dies supported by the die holder 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d.

Intermediate the poppets 68 of each movable die holder 6 is positioned a poppet 73 which has relative movement with respect to the bridge 62 and the movable die holder 6 in which it is inserted. Each movable die holder 6 is provided with a bore 74 having seated at its inner end the rubber cushion member 75 engaged by the end of the poppet 73. The poppet '73 has an annular groove 76 in which a split r ng 77 is inserted to hold the same in a similar position and prevent the poppet '73 from moving any further inwardly than that permitted by the ring. The outer end of each poppet is provided with a cam surface 78 aranged to be engaged by the cam 3d secured to the inner slidable shaft 38 actuated by the piston 41.

When all of the movable die holders 6 are constructed and assembled by the bridge number 52 in the printing cylinder 2, the whole of the surface of the cylinder 2 and the die holders are turned or ground into a uniform cylindrical surface. This is accomplished by wedging the movable die holders 6 against the stops 65.

Referring to FIG. 6 the shaft 38' which is slidable within the shaft 36 has three cam members 3%) indicated by the letters 8%, 86b and 860 and the position of the cams as shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the position of the cylinder 44 as shown in FIG. 3. In this position fluid is admitted from the valve 51 to the port a7 and the 6 piston 81 is moved to the extreme right position where it engages the cylindrical extension 82. of the piston 83 causing it to move to the extreme right position. In this position cam 8% has extended poppet 73b to move the indicia one and one-half inch economy outwardly to printing position.

If the valve 4% is energized to admit fluid under pressure to the port 45, the piston 33 is moved to the left traversing the whole of its cylinder and moves the piston 81 to the position as indicated at 84. At this time the cam Silo has moved from the position as shown in FIG. 6 to the left of the poppet 73b and the cam b has moved under the poppet 73d thus extending the die holder 6a! to its outward position. The next movement of the piston rod 41 and the cylinder 42 would be obtained by energizing the valve 54 which supplies fluid under pressure to the port 46 that is effective on the piston 81 to move it further to the left until it engages the end of the cylindrical sleeve 35 of the piston 86. At the time the valve member 50 is energized to provide fluid under pressure to the port 46, the valve 52 is likewise energized to provide fluid under pressure to the port 48 which holds the large diameter piston 86 against the same pressure applied to the opposite side of the piston S-l. Thus the movement of the piston 81 is arrested at the end of the cylindrical portion 85 as shown in FIG; 3. Thus when the switch controlling the electrically operated valve is energized to move the rotary shaft 3% to this position the same switch will energize the valve 52 to attain this end. When the piston 81 is stopped by the end of the sleeve 85 the cam title rides under the poppet 73c and thus raises the die holder dc to make the printing medium two inch effective in printing on the object.

Upon deenergizing the valve 52 while maintaining the valve 5t energized fluid under pressure is exhausted from behind the large piston 85 and the piston 81 thus moves the piston 86 to the end of its stroke. This movement causes the reciprocating rotary shaft 38 to move to the extreme left position where the cam 89c engages under the poppet 73a to raise the die holder 6:: and cause the indicia indicated by three inches thick to be printed on the paper.

Referring to FIG. 3, the switch actuator 87 is arranged to contact each of the switches 88, 90, 91 and 92 to energize the respective solenoids 53, 54, 55 and 56 for energizing respectively the valves 49, 50, 5d and 52, for the purpose of moving the shaft 41 from right to left as previously described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6.

In the structure of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 the die holder openings 57 to 6d are the sole control for guiding the movement of the die holders 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d but an equal number of openings 57, 58', 5E? and dtl' are also provided in the opposite side of the cylinder 2 to slidably support an equivalent number of die holders 6a, 6b, 6c and dd and their dies with additional indicia for making other various markings on the subject to be printed. Since the die holder structure is similar on opposite sides of the rotary frame or cylinder 2 only one side need 'be described until reference is made to the cams. As shown in these views the bridge has been eliminated and the die holder sections are each slida-ble in the lateral openings 57, 58, 59 and 6% with their surfaces disposed axially and between adjacent die holders having a sliding lit and the transverse surfaces having clearance. An abutment member 93 is provided along each side of the lateral openings and is provided with a lower shoulder 94 and an upper shoulder 95 against which each of the die holders abut at their extreme inner and outer move ment in said lateral openings. of each die holder has an arcuate groove which matches at its ends the complementary grooves $7 in the frame 2. There being tour guide holders on each side of the frame 2, there are four grooves 97 that are completed annularly by the four arcuate grooves 96 of the eight die holders. Each die holder groove $6 slopes inwardly and down The large radial face wardly as shown in FIG. 9 to maintain proper seating of the garter spring 98 in each annular groove. If the abutment members 93 are removed the die holders may be raised and the garter springs slipped from the grooves 96 and thus release the die holder. Adequate clearance 99 is provided between the ends of the grooves 96 and the grooves 97 in the frame 2 to allow for the stretching of the garter springs when the die holder is lifted. Thus two die holders 6 on opposite sides of the frame are retracted and retained against the stop 94 by a continuous annular garter spring 98.

Any one of these eight die holders 6 may be quickly extended before the rotary frame 2 has an opportunity to turn a fraction of a turn. Thus one may print from one side of the cylinder and in the interim a die on the other side will print in a half or quarter revolution of the printing cylinder. In this way difierent combinations may be printed consecutively on a continuous sheet from a. single printing cylinder. On the other hand the indicia is multiplied for any reasonable number of different dies since more than four may be placed in a row and at least three sets of rows of the approximate size shown could be used in the structure shown. If the dies are materially reduced then more indicia could be obtained from the same printing roll.

Referring specifically to FIG. 9 the cam structure for actuating eight dies is shown, and the cylinder 4-4 is provided with eight difierent positions in its axial movement. As illustrated in FIG. 9 each die holder has its poppet 100 in the form of an elastomer 191 vulcanized in the same relative position to the inner face of the die holder. The ela-storner has vulcanized to it the hand cam engaging button 102. These poppet-s are properly positioned rela tive to their die holders to provide maximum support to' the die for arcuate printing when extended by its operating cam.

As shown the shaft 38 has eight cams attached thereto. Cam 103 actuates 60 as shown when the shaft 33 is at the extreme left position. Thus one die must be raised all the time. The movement of the cylinder 44 one increment to the right causes cam 103 to disengage 6c and cam 194 to actuate 6c on the opposite side of the rotary printing cylinder and cam 103 is removed to allow 60 to retract.

The next consecutive movement to the right of shaft 28 causes cam 104 to release 6c and cam 195 to actuate Each consecutive movement to the right and each consecutive cam 106, 197, 198, 199 and 110 will actuate their corresponding die holders 6a, 6d, 6d, 6b and 6b the latter remaining in its extended position and the shaft 33 in the cylinder 44 remaining at the extreme right position holding the last die out or in printing position. The fluid cylinder 44 is preferably pneumatic but it may be hydraulically actuated. It takes only a fraction of a revolution of the printing cylinder for the shaft 38 to pass to any selected position whether it is to the extreme positions on the drum and each die will be extended upon such movement but it may be made between the printing of one side of the drum and before the other side reaches printing position. In the circuit diagram the selector 87 may be set for the specific die desired but the actuation is not made until one of the cams 111 on the printing cylinder actuates the switch 112 to close the contact 113 inrthe 110 volt side of the circuit. In FIG. 3 there need be only one cam 111. In FIG. 9 two cams 1 11 are required because there are two independent 7 sets of die holders 6.

Referring to FIG. the die holder actuating means for each die is an electrical solenoid which when energized either extends or retracts the die which is held in the selected position until re-energized for its opposite position. This actuator has many advantages in that any one or any combination or all of the dies are capable of being extended at the same time. Again a high multiple 8 r of die holders may be employed in which case they are preferably spring biased as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 to be retracted and only one coil of the solenoid need be employed to extend the die into printing position and only one wire is required to selectively energize each coil otherwise a combination circuit using diodes is required to energize a double acting solenoid as illustrated in FIG. 10.

The solenoid structure illustrated is mounted on the shaft 36 and each solenoid is provided for each movable die holder such as illustrated'at 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d. The multiple die holders 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d are again mounted on the opposite side of the printing cylinder in the same manner as that described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. If the same spring bias elements employing the garter springs 98 are employed for each of the die holders 6 then the poppet with the rubber discs 101 are faced with the hard metal cap in the same manner as that shown and described in FIG. 9. If, however, no biasing member is employed and a double acting solenoid is used as illustrated in FIG. 10, then each of the die holders 6 are interlocked by a sliding interengagement with their corresponding armature 114. This interlocking is illustrated at and the poppet member 73 is undercut with a suitable interlocking structure to have a sliding fit with the end of the armature. Thus when the whole of the shaft 36 is withdrawn from the cylinder 2 each of the armatures pass the adjacent poppet '73 until the shaft is fully removed. In order to retain the die holders 6 a detent such as illustrated at 116 is provided for each die holder 6 which is in the form of a spring biased ball that engages One of two positions in the socket 117 in the side of the die holder 6 as shown in FIG. 10.

The solenoids 118 are provided with two coils 129 and 21 which are divided by a spacer and are retained in the magnetic cylinder 122 which is closed at its inner end and is provided with a magnetic washer 123 at its outer end. A nonmagnetic seal 124 closes the opening in which the armature 1'14 reciprocates and this represents an air gap at one end and the air gap at the opposite end is between the closed end of the cylinder 122 and the end of the armature 114. The armature is slidable in the nonmagnetic tubing125 on which the operating coils 126 and 121 are mounted.

The coils and 121 are wound so that the coil 120 will raise the die holder 6 into operating position and against the stop 95 such as illustrated in FIG. 7 and the coil 121 will draw the armature so as to retract the die holder 6 into the position as shown in FIG. 10. The adjacent ends of the coils 120 and 12-1 are connected together by the line 126 which is the common return line for all of the solenoids on both sides of the shaft as shown in FIG. 10.

The opposite end of the coil 12th is connected by the line 127 to the rectifier 128 and the opposite end of the coil 121 is connected by the line 129 to the rectifier 128. Thus the rectifier 128 will selectively pass unidirectional current to energize either coil 120 or 121 and only one control wire 139 is required to be taken outwardly through the shaft to its associated slip rings 131 of which one is provided for each solenoid 11S and as shown in FIG. 10 there are eight solenoids so nine collecting rings are required, the ninth one being for the common return to all the solenoids.

With this structure any one of the eight die holders may be energized to extend or retract the die relative to the printing position and with this setup one or any number including all of the dies may be extended to printing position. to retain the solenoid energized; However, if one wished to dispense with the detent 116 or any biasing'means to retract the die holder 6 then the selected solenoid coils 124 or 121' may be retained energized throughout its use and thus hold the die holders in either their printing position or in their retracted position. The solenoid of Once the die is extended it is not necessary course is sufficiently strong to retain the die holder and die in printing position under the pressure exerted on the backup roll 8. This is obviously an easy thing to do because as shown in FIG. 2 the printing that is stationary or that remains fixed on the rotary printing cylinder may be on one or both sides of the die holders 6 at opposite ends of the cylinder and thus the movable dies are not required to take the full pressure but exert suflicient pressure to print. This structure has many advantages in that each die holder 6 is independently Controlled and one or more may be extended at any one time.

Referring to FIG. 11, in this structure the die head holders 6a, 6a, 6b, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6d are each guided by the openings as defined at 57, 58, 59 and 6t) and need not be retained as the cam structure which actuates these die heads retains them in their fixed inner or outer positions. The under side of each die head 6 has vulcanized thereto the rubber member 132 the opposite side of which has secured thereto the cam member 133 which is provided with the a-rcuate opposed surfaces 134- and 135 to engage a complementary arcua-te surface 136 and 137 which are the outer and inner surfaces respectively of the rotary cam member 138 which is provided for each of the die holders 6. This cam member has a splined socket 139 for receiving the splined section 140 of the shaft 36.

The cam surfaces 136 and 137 of the rotary cam member 138 extend outwardly in one position for engaging the mating arcuate surfaces of the cams 133 of the die holders 6. As shown in FIG. 11 the die holder 6 is extended owing to the extended position 141 of this cam 138. All the other cams 133 are held inwardly owing to the fact that the position of the cam 138 is at its inner position as indicated at 142. Thus one must provide relative rotary movement between the shaft 36 and the printing cylinder 2 in order to change the position of each of the die holders selectively. This is accomplished by providing a gear .143 within the drive member having the rubber tire 35 which drive member is bolted to the cylindrical drum 2 by the bolts 39. The bolts 39 are made longer to hold the gear 143 in the structure of FIG. ll. The gear 143 is engaged by the pinion 144 of the motor 145 which motor is keyed relative to the shaft 36 as indicated by the key members 146. The motor 145 is provided with a plurality of electric control lines 147 that extend outwardly through the hollow shaft 36 and are connected by means of slip rings to external circuits for controlling the operation of the motor 145 to eight distinct positions around the circle represented by the difference between the relative positions of the shaft 36 and the drum 2. Thus each of the eight positions will place the corresponding cam section 141 to extend its corresponding die holder 6 as illustrated in regard to the die holder 6a in FIG. 11, there being one cam extension 141 on each cam 138 thus two positions controlled by the motor 145 will actuate the die holders 6a and 6a at different times and the relative movement between the shaft 36 and the die cylinder 2. In this way one may selectively move any one of the die holders to its printing position by means of a rotary cam element that is remotely controlled.

Referring now to FIG. 12 each of the die holders 6 are mounted and operated in the same manner as that illustrated with reference to FIG. 1 and the bridge member 62 is extended nito the end of the drum cylinder 2 so as to engage the inner face of the same at the left end as shown in FIG. 12 and the adjacent abutting faces are provided with O-rings 148 which seal on opposite sides of the longitudinal passage 15% in the bridge member which connects with the passage 151 in the end of the cylinder 2. The passage 151 also connects with the radial passage 152 that is plugged at its outer end as indicated at 153. The inner end of the passage 152 is connected with a tube 154 that passes through a slot 155 in the shaft 36 and the shaft 318 in its movements longitudinally within the shaft 36 stops short of the tube 15 within the limit of the travel of the shaft 38 to the left as shown in FIG. 12. The tube 154 extends out of the left end of the shaft 35 and is provided with a rotary coupling 1'56 which maintains the passage in the tube 154 sealed but the coupling 1% remains stationary and connects the fluid passage to a source of fluid supply such as a hydraulic or penumatic source of fluid pressure. Thus by supplying a fluid pressure through the tube 154 and to the passage iSii in the bridge member 62 the fluid under pressure is supplied to each of the pistons 157 formed on the poppets 73 and the passage 156 is connected to each of the consecutive radial poppet openings in the bridge member 62 consecutively and above the piston surfaces of each of the poppet members 73a, 73b, 73c and 73d. Thus the fluid pressure constantly supplied to the piston areas of each of these poppets retain the die holders 6 in their retracted position.

The poppet members 73 may each be actuated by the cams 89 or by any other suitable manner such as previously illustrated in regard to the structure of FIGS. 6 to 10.

Each of the structures illustrated and each of the modified forms provide improved operation for the retraction and the expansion of a die which is one of a plurality of dies radially extended or retracted in a rotary printing drum. Each of these structures may be readily controlled remotely to provide a specific printing or a combination in the rotary printing drum without stopping the drum and even between a Very short radial movement of the printing surface of the drum. Thus by this improved remote control the printing dies may be varied or changed before the drum has passed through forty-five degrees after a printing station even though it is traveling at a relatively high surface speed and thus the changed die is effective for the next third or one-half of the printing surface of the rotary printing drum. Such speed and accurate changing of the dies is obtained by each of the modified structures which is highly important in printing fast moving objects or a fast moving sheet whether it be paper or metal.

We claim:

1. A rotary printing cylinder consisting of a frame supporting a cylindrical printing surface and mounted for rotation to present this cylindrical printing surface to an object to be printed and having longitudinally aligned lateral guide openings, a plurality of dies with selected indicia to be printed, a plurality of die holders guided for lateral movement by said lateral openings on said frame and each die holder carrying a die for printing longitudinally of said cylinder, die holder retracting means carried by said frame and effective on each die holder to retract and maintain the printing surface of its die in retractible position from said cylindrical printing surface, aligned cams slidable axially within said frame to selectively actuate said die holders and extend their dies to the cylindrical printing surface, a fluid cylinder having an operating position for each cam, and control means to actuate said fluid cylinder to a selected operating position and move the corresponding cam to extend the printing surface of the die selected to the cylindrical printing surface of said earn.

2. A rotary printing cylinder supporting a cylindrical printing surface and mounted for rotation to present this cylindrical printing surface to an object to be printed, a plurality of dies with selected indicia to be printed, a die holder for each die on said cylinder and guided for lateral movement to extend the printing surface of its die to the cylindrical printing surface of the cylinder, die holder retracting means carried by said cylinder and effective on each die holder to retract and maintain the printing surface of its die in retracted position from said cylindrical printing surface, die holder actuating means for each die holder mounted in said cylinder and selectively operated to overcome said die holder retracting means and move the selected die holder to extend the printing surface of its die to the cylindrical printing surface while rotation of the cylinder subsists, stop means to limit the extended position of each die holder, and a compression equalizer between said actuating means and each die holder to extend the printing surface of its die and each die holder against it step through compression of said compression equalizer.

3. The rotary printing cylinder of claim 2 characterized in that each compression equalizer carried by each die holder includes an elastomer.

4. The rotary printing cylinder of claim 2 characterized in that said compression equalizer carried by each die holder includes an elastomer engaged by a poppet member with a surface for engagement by said die holder actuating means.

5. The rotary printing cylinder of claim 4 characterized in that said elastomer is vulcanized to said die holder and said poppet member.

6. The rotary printing cylinder of claim 2 characterized in that said die holder retracting means are springs constantly urging said die holders inwardly.

7. The rotary printing cylinder of claim 6 characterized in that said springs are independent coil springs on poppets secured to each die holder.

8. The rotary printing cylinder of claim 6 characterized in that said springs are garter springs encircling said cylinder and effective on at least one die holder;

9. The rotary printing cylinder of claim 2 characterized in that said die holder retracting means are solenoids mounted in said cylinder and which when selectively enerigized retract their respective die holder and its die from printing position.

'10. The rotary printing cylinder of claim 2 characterized in that said die holder retracting means are independent fluid actuated piston means mounted in said cylinder to move radially.

11. The rotary printing cylind-erof claim 2 characterized in that said die holder retracting means are cam means mounted to retract by positive action on said die holders to move them inwardly when selected.

12. The rotary printing cylinder of claim 2 characterized in that said die holder actuating means are cam means mounted to actuate by positive action on said die holders to move them outwardly whenselected.

' 13. The rotary printing cylinder of claim 12 characterized in that said die holder actuating means are cams slidable axially in said cylinder.

14. The rotary printin cylinder of claim 12 characterized by means to support said cams to'be axially rotatable within said rotary cylinder.

15. The rotary printing cylinder of claim 2 characterized in that said die holder actuating means and said die holder retracting means .are different portions of the same rotary cam coaxially rotatable within said rotary cylinder.

16. The rotary printing cylinder of claim 2 characterized in that said die holder actuating means are solenoids mounted within said rotary cylinder and when selectively energized actuate their respective die holder and die to printing position. a

17. A rotary printing cylinder supporting a cylindrical printing surface and mounted for rotation to present this cylindrical printing surface to an object to be printed,

a plurality of dies with selected indicia toibe printed, a

die holder for each die on said cylinder and guided for lateral movement to extend the printing surface of its die to the cylindrical printing surface of the cylinder, die holder retracting means carried by said cylinder and effective on each die holder to retract and maintain the printing surface of its die in retracted position from said cylindrical printing surface, die holder actuating means for each die holder mounted in said cylinder and selectively operated to overcome said die holder retracting means and move the selected die holder to extend the printing surface of its die to the cylindrical printing surface while rotation of the cylinder subsists, stop means to limit the extended position of each die holder, and a compression equalizer between said actuating means and each die holder to extend the printing surface of its die and each die holder against its stop through compression of said compression equalizer, said die holder actuating means and said die holder retracting means are aligned solenoids independently actuated to extent and retract each die holder.

18. A rotary printing cylinder for supporting a cylindrical printing surface and mounted for rotation and to present this cylindrical printing surface to an object to be printed, a removable bridge mounted longitudinally of said cylinder having lateral openings with parallel guide slots, a die holder operable in each of said lateral openings, guides on said die holders operable in said guide slots to control the lateral movement of said die holders, 3. die carried by each die holder to be presented in the cylindrical printing surface of said cylinder, stop means between said bridge and each die holder to limit the extension of each die in the cylindrical printing surface, bias means effective on said lateral moving die holders to maintain the printing surface of said dies in their retra'cted position, and die holder actuating means in said cylinder and selectively operable to move a die holder adjacent said stop and overcome said bias means to extend the printing surface of its die to the cylindrical printing surface while rotation of the cylinder subsists.

19. A rotary printing cylinder for supporting a cylindrical printing surface relative to an object to be printed, a plurality of dies With selected indicia to be printed, a die holder for supporting each die and mounted in longitudinal'alignrnent on said cylinder and guided for lateral movement, die holder retracting means mounted in said cylinder to retract and maintain the printing surf-ace .of the dies in retractable position from said cylindrical printing surface, die holder actuating'means mounted in said cylinder and selectively operable to overcome each die holder retracting means to move the selected die holder laterally and extend the printing surface of its die to the cylindrical printing surface while rotation of the cylinder subsists, and compression equalizer means between said actuating means and each die holder to absorb forces on said dies when extended.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,196,729 8/16 Barroll 10l9l X 2,648,278 7 8/53 Neander et a1. 10l92 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. LEIGHY, Examiner. 

1. A ROTARY PRINTING CYLINDER CONSISTING OF A FRAME SUPPORTING A CYLINDRICAL PRINTING SURFACE AND MOUNTED FOR ROTATION TO PRESENT THIS CYLINDRICAL PRINTING SURFACE TO AN OBJECT TO BE PRINTED AND HAVING LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED LATERAL GUIDE OPENINGS, A PLURALITY OF DIES WITH SELECTED INDICIA TO BE PRINTED, A PLURALITY OF DIE HOLDERS GUIDED FOR LATERAL MOVEMENT BY SAID LATERAL OPENINGS ON SAID FRAME AND EACH DIE HOLDER CARRYING A DIE FOR PRINTING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID CYLINDER, DIE HOLDER RETRACTING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME AND EFFECTIVE ON EACH DIE HOLDER TO RETRACT AND MAINTAIN THE PRINTING SURFACE OF ITS DIE IN RETRACTIBLE POSITION FROM SAID CYLINDRICAL PRINTING SURFACE, ALIGNED CAMS SLIDABLE AXIALLY WITHIN SAID FRAME TO SELECTIVELY ACTUATE SAID DIE HOLDERS AND EXTEND THEIR DIES TO THE CYLINDRICAL PRINTING SURFACE, A FLUID CYLINDER HAVING AN OPERATING POSITION FOR EACH CAM, AND CONTROL MEANS TO ACTUATE SAID FLUID CYLINDER TO A SELECTED OPERATING POSITION AND MOVE THE CORRESPONDING CAM TO EXTEND THE PRINTING SURFACE OF THE DIE SELECTED TO THE CYLINDRICAL PRINTING SURFACE OF SAID CAM. 